David L. Johns, twelfth president of Ferrum College
FERRUM, VA (November 1, 2022) – Today, David L. Johns announced his resignation as president of Ferrum College effective Nov. 7, 2022.
“I am proud of all we have accomplished these past five years and the way we have worked together to make Ferrum a great place to live, work, study, and play. I appreciate the support I have received from the Board throughout this process,” Johns wrote.
Following Johns’ announcement, Ferrum College Board of Trustees Chair Scott Showalter ’73 shared that the trustees have begun the process for selecting an interim president to oversee Ferrum College while they prepare for a national search for the next president.
Prior to the appointment of an interim president, Kevin P. Reilly, vice president for Academic Affairs, has been named chief operating officer of the College. Showalter expressed the board’s appreciation for Reilly’s willingness to assume the leadership role during this time of transition. “We are confident in Dr. Reilly’s ability, and that of the entire president’s cabinet, to lead the College over the coming months,” said Showalter.
“We are grateful for [David Johns’] service to the College and his many contributions during his tenure as president, including managing the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and for his efforts in establishing the strategic direction of the College,” said Showalter. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we wish Dr. Johns all the best in his next endeavor.”
Additional information about the transition in leadership will be shared as it becomes available.
President David Johns
(September 29, 2021)
I spent many of my after school evenings at the Greentown Branch Library. I really don’t remember how it started or why I gravitated there; there was no formal program, no academic intervention, no outreach to poor kids in the neighborhood; but, for some reason, the library is where I wanted to hang out.
Greentown is a few miles from the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Interstate 77, and close enough to the Akron-Canton Airport that we could smell smoke from the wreckage when New Yankee catcher, Thurman Munson, crashed his Cessna Citation there in August 1979.
You could see the library from my school playground. It was tiny, only a few hundred square feet, a single reading room with shelving along the walls and a few freestanding cases stuffed with newspapers, books, and magazines. And, most importantly, I could walk there in less than ten minutes.
Of course, I understand why my parents allowed me to spend countless hours there each week — one less fidgety kid running through the house! But I am not sure why Jean Shelly, the fiercely disciplined, frighteningly stern librarian, put up with me. But she did. In fact, she was kind to me, even maternal, keeping a table always ready for me to spread out all the materials I was exploring.
She pointed me to things that interested me, and then to things that became interesting to me: Al Unser, the Indianapolis 500, magic tricks and biographies of Harry Houdini, stories about the Buddha, world maps, castles, articles about Japan. And mysteries, lots of mysteries like the Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes, and especially Ellery Queen, whose ‘Mystery Magazine’ was the first ever subscription I had in my own name.
Miss Shelly was cool, like Morticia Addams is cool; she may have eaten the young of other families in town for all I knew, but she opened the world to me in that diminutive biblioteca, and I loved her for it.
The heavy black rotary phone on her desk sounded the same no matter who dialed the library’s number—except for one. Each evening near closing time, my mother would call—I always knew it was her—and Miss Shelly would tell me it was time for me to go home.
I always carried a treasure back home with me, a book or two that swept me up and drew me in, something that opened my imagination to worlds close at hand and far away. My sisters knew I was back in the house by the familiar sound of a stack of books sliding from my arms, hitting the kitchen table, and fanning out like a deck of cards.
I visited that little place recently, a few days after my father died. Like a lot of things from childhood that we look at with older eyes, it was smaller than I remembered, no bigger than a modest starter home. I haven’t thought about that library for years, so I am not sure why I stopped by then. Maybe I thought the bricks still carried something from those days—a droplet of mystery and adventure, a glimpse of Miss Shelly’s kind and unsmiling face, the ring of a telephone summoning me home.
But all was silent.
No longer a library, it is now a museum, weather-beaten and stuffed inside and out with other types of wonders and curiosities: lightning rods, mailboxes, and hitching posts.
I took a photo in front of the door that opened to me each evening. In my hand I held a book that I could never have read then, but that I wouldn’t be reading today had that once-upon-a-time library not embraced a towheaded boy from Greentown, Ohio with mismatched socks, and a heart hungry for the world.
This column by President David Johns appeared in The Franklin News-Post. President Johns may be reached at president@ferrum.edu.
President David Johns updated the campus community regarding plans for fall 2020 in the letter, below.
Dear Ferrum Family,
On Saturday, May 9, we honored 200 graduates at our first ever virtual commencement ceremony. I am proud of our faculty, staff, and especially our students who showed remarkable perseverance this semester to reach this milestone. Although it was not the commencement any of us expected, it was nevertheless filled with joy, celebration, reflection, and hope as the class of 2020 turned its sights toward the future.
At Ferrum College, we are also looking toward the future, and have already begun planning for Fall 2020. While the COVID-19 crisis will alter higher education for the foreseeable future, we are committed to our mission of providing an educational experience that fosters intellectual curiosity and prepares students for meaningful lives and careers.
To that end, I am pleased to announce that we intend to reopen our campus this fall, to offer on-site instruction, and provide a residential experience for our students.
We are in the process of developing social distancing and safety protocols to ensure a safe campus environment, and we will continue to seek the guidance of our public health experts. While we are optimistic about returning to campus, we will not do anything to jeopardize the health and well-being of our students and community; thus we will provide regular updates throughout the summer about returning to campus, housing, athletics, classes, and more.
To provide more flexibility, fall semester will be divided into two terms, with classes beginning on August 25. Students will receive detailed information pertaining to their fall course registrations in the coming weeks.
Other changes will include:
This is an unprecedented time for many of us, but it is not unprecedented for our College. Founded on the eve of World War I, Ferrum has endured challenging times since its inception. And for over 100 years Ferrum responded to times of uncertainty with resilience (#FerrumMeansIron), commitment to each other (#NotSelfButOthers), and strength (#FerrumStrong).
The grit and determination that has sustained us in the past will carry us into the future. The values that have inspired the Ferrum Family for decades, inspire us still. We have not so much encountered an obstacle these past few months, as we have reached a turning point; this fall we begin a new chapter in the Ferrum story, and I invite each of you to be part of it.
With Panther Pride,
David L. Johns, Ph.D.
President
On Saturday, May 9, 2020, a day usually filled with activity, excitement, and crowds of family and friends, the Ferrum College campus was brilliantly sunny, chilly, and quiet.
At 10 a.m., the College began its 104th commencement ceremony during which 200 seniors from 14 different states were honored during a ceremony that was streamed online. The College was forced to postpone its traditional in-person graduation event due to the novel coronavirus.
Although the delivery was different, the commencement exercises remained generally the same. The program began with a slideshow of the graduates, and President David L. Johns and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato continued the tradition of ringing the large bell on campus to signify the start of the ceremony. The keynote address was brought by retired Professor Emeritus of Biology and Horticulture Bob Pohlad.
Virtual attendees were welcomed by Sposato, as she noted that “commencements are often thought of as bittersweet endings but today we are truly celebrating new beginnings.”
“You have overcome many obstacles throughout your four years here,” Sposato told the graduates. “But none more so than what you have overcome in just the past seven weeks. As you embark on your next journey – to graduate school, internships, a new job – this is truly your moment to shine.”
Following the invocation given by Dean of Chapel Jan Nicholson Angle, Johns offered a greeting, telling the graduates, “against all odds, and in the face of enormous challenges, Class of 2020, you made it! Nothing is going to stand in our way today, of celebrating and honoring you, and nothing is going to stand in your way of achieving your dreams.”
Johns went on to offer advice: “We all know, now more than ever, that great achievement comes from teamwork. It requires a group effort. Graduates, in addition to your own hard work and determination, the love and support that you’ve received from your family and friends helped to bring you to this moment.”
“Amazing things happen here at Ferrum College each and every day, sometimes in big and splashy ways, but very often in small, quiet, and incremental ways,” Johns continued. “And before you know it, here we are, gathered in this virtual space, a place between where you are this moment and where I stand this morning. A ‘together’ space. Transformation has happened. Your life has changed. Your future is about to begin.”
Ferrum College Board of Trustees chair Phyllis Karavatakis ’76 and Alumni Association President Twyla Tatum ’04 each gave greetings on behalf of their respective boards.
After thanking Ferrum College staff members for their dedication during the global pandemic, Sposato recognized nine distinguished faculty members with 212 years of combined service in teaching at the College: Seasonal Director of Technical Services in Library Sciences Peggy Barker; Professor of Economics Rathin Basu; Assistant Professor of English Karen Duddy; Professor of English John Kitterman; Associate Professor of English Melvin Macklin; Assistant Professor of Marketing Michele “Micky” Naff; Associate Professor of Accounting and Business Christine Stinson; Associate Professor of Social Work Jennie West; and Assistant Professor of Sociology Peg Wimmer.
The rank of Faculty Emeritus was bestowed upon the following retirees: Professor of Philosophy Gary Angel; Professor of Theatre Arts Harold Wayne Bowman; Professor of English John Bruton; Professor of Biology and Horticulture Bob Pohlad; Associate Professor of History C. Milton Rowan; Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Carolyn Thomas; Professor of History Mike Trochim; and Professor of Business Demetri Tsanacas.
The presentation of awards followed. Jennie West received the Exemplary Faculty Award, which recognizes a full-time faculty member at Ferrum College who exemplifies excellence and commitment to teaching. West was described by her colleagues as one who “always leads by example, educates future professionals, challenges them, and opens their perspectives to different world views to make them more observant, knowledgable, open-minded individuals as they grow and learn through their journey and education at Ferrum College.”
Students shared that West was a friend who made them feel heard and at home, but pushed them out of their comfort zones. West is retiring this year, after 25 years of teaching at Ferrum College.
Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Kevin Reilly announced that Christopher Michael Stone of Ferrum, VA received the Senior Academic Excellence Award. This award is based on grades earned in all college courses by a full-time student, including those taken at Ferrum, as well as those received in transfer from other colleges or universities. Stone maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies.
Layura Henley ’20 from Wytheville, VA, received the Arthur S. Owens Leadership Award, which is presented annually to the senior chosen by the faculty who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, initiative, honor, and outstanding character. Recipients of this award must also hold an excellent academic record, have participated in extra-curricular activities, and shown creative initiative in making Ferrum College a better place to study, work, and live. Henley triple majored, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-professional health studies, biology, and health sciences.
Following the awards presentations, Professor of Environmental Science and Chair of the Natural Science Division Delia Heck introduced Pohlad. He spoke about the unique graduation ceremonies he and his late wife, Carolyn Thomas, had attended over their 41 years as professors at Ferrum College. Some included heat, rain, and even one snowstorm. He acknowledged that none of those commencements had ever been as unique as this year. “You are the virtual commencement class of 2020! Embrace it! You will always be remembered for it. It may even be a key to your next job,” he said. “We all must embrace the opportunities and experiences that we have had with each other. They make us who we are. We are Ferrum Strong and we adapt.”
Pohlad ended his speech with a bit of advice for the graduates, saying, “As you go out from here with your degree in hand, accept the challenges ahead with confidence and strength, knowing your Ferrum family is here for you. Cling to your memories but use what you learned in your last four years to excel. We are excited to watch you soar!”
Student Government Association President Mikayla Moreno ’21, of Newport, NC, then introduced Senior Class Vice President Layura Henley ’20. Henley announced that the class of 2020 had chosen to give spotlights to shine on the Panther statue outside of Franklin Hall as the senior class gift. Henley then introduced Senior Class President Caitlin Hodges ’20 as the senior class speaker.
After thanking the class of 2020 for being asked to speak, Hodges told the graduates that “each of you has a niche in the world, and it’s unlike any other person’s niche and it suits you perfectly. However, it may not be easy to attain and it may even seem impossible to start the journey. Vocation is a choice that each person has to make on their own. It is your choice to tell the world you who are.”
She ended her speech by telling the graduates that “Panthers don’t settle, and we do not take the path of least resistance. So go on, go out into the world and make it one you want to live in.”
After the conferring and awarding of degrees by Johns and Sposato, the Panther Band performed the College’s “Alma Mater” under the direction of Sixto Montesinos, assistant professor of music and director of bands.
The ceremony closed with eight celebrity guest appearances by actor Ty Burrell of the television show Modern Family; comedian Joel McHale of The Soup, Community, and Card Sharks; author David Baldacci; Ferrum College alumnus, actor, writer, and producer Mike McColl ’93; actor Graham Phillips of Riverdale and The Good Wife; actor Jamie McShane of Sons of Anarchy, Murder in the First, and Bloodline; comedian Keegan Michael Key; and actor Connor Trinneer of Star Trek Enterprise.
Along with the in-person commencement ceremony, the traditional baccalaureate service and candlelight ceremony, normally held on Friday evening before graduation, was also postponed due to the coronavirus. The College has plans to reschedule both events.
Caitlin Hodges ’20 was featured in a Roanoke Times article by Amy Friedenburger. Read it here.
Brian Mann ’20 received the President’s Cup. Read about him here.
Ferrum College will honor 199 graduates during an online commencement on May 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. The College was forced to postpone its 104th in-person commencement ceremony because of the coronavirus.
The virtual event will feature videos from Ferrum College President David L. Johns, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato, along with members of the senior class. Retired Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Biology Bob Pohlad will bring the keynote address. In addition, a number of celebrities will make guest appearances.
Although the ceremony will be delivered differently this year, the College will follow much of the traditional commencement format including the bestowing of faculty and student awards, presentation of graduates, and conferring of degrees. The Panther Marching Band will also perform the College’s “Alma Mater”.
“I wish we could gather on campus with family and friends to celebrate our new graduates. Nevertheless, we will not allow anything to stand in the way of honoring and recognizing the remarkable achievements of our students,” said Johns. “In the history of semesters, none has been more unusual than this one. The class of 2020 will be remembered for generations to come because they faced the most daunting of circumstances, and yet they exhibited imagination, grace, and grit. They are Ferrum Strong, and they are ready for anything life presents them!”
View program details here.
Ferrum College will celebrate the inauguration of its twelfth president, David L. Johns, Ph.D., on Friday, October 19 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be held in Vaughn Chapel located on the College’s campus. Phyllis Karavatakis ’76, chair of the Ferrum College Board of Trustees, will install Johns. Beth Rushing, president of the Appalachian College Association, will bring the keynote address. The ceremony may be watched streaming live online here.
Johns became president of Ferrum College on January 1, 2018. Prior to arriving at the College, he served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of college at Union College in Kentucky.
To celebrate this historic moment, Ferrum College invites members of the College, community and Ferrum alumni to join in the festivities surrounding the inauguration. These events begin on Thursday evening, October 18, when the College hosts Rev. Anna Woofenden, visiting pastor of peace and spirituality at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, Ohio, as part of the Rev. Dr. Wasena F. Wright, Jr. ’60 and Mrs. Patricia G. Wright Endowed Lecture Series. She will speak about “Food and Faith: Conversations from the Soil and Around the Table” at 7 p.m. in the Panther’s Den located in lower Franklin Hall on campus. This event is free and open to the public.
Following the inauguration on Friday, October 19, the community is invited to participate in a family-friendly bike tour hosted by Ferrum Outdoors at 1 p.m. Also at 1 p.m., the 27th Annual Corron Classic Panther Open Golf Tournament will commence at Great Oaks Country Club in Floyd. Registration at www.ferrum.edu/homecoming is required for both events.
Community members are also invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the following outside events that are free and do not require registration: The Homecoming parade will process down Wiley Drive on campus beginning at 4 p.m., followed by food trucks and children’s activities, plus live music by Twin Creeks Stringband at 5:15 p.m. and The Blue Crawdads at 7 p.m. Fireworks over Adams Lake at 9 p.m. will conclude the evening’s events with s’mores immediately following outside Stanley Library.
Homecoming and Family Weekend festivities will continue on Saturday, October 20, with reunions, tailgating, and a 4 p.m. football game showcasing the Ferrum College Panthers versus the Washington and Lee Generals at W.B. Adams Stadium. Football game tickets are available at the gate for $10 cash only. The weekend festivities will conclude with a 9:30 a.m. worship service at Saint James United Methodist Church in Ferrum on Sunday, October 21.
For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please visit www.ferrum.edu/homecoming or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.
For more information regarding Dr. Johns’ inauguration, Rev. Woofenden’s presentation, Homecoming events, and to register for events, please click here or call the Alumni Office at 540-365-4216.
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More information about Dr. Johns: Johns graduated from Malone University in Canton, Ohio in 1985, then earned an M.A. in Theology from the Earlham School of Religion, an M.L.S. from Kent State University, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Duquesne University in 1999. He taught at Wilmington College and the Earlham School of Religion; worked as a college chaplain and an academic librarian; lectured at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla, Mexico, the Instituto de Jorge Fox in Ocotepeque, Honduras; and was a scholar-in-residence at the Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos in Mexico City.
